Cast yourself into a world where our oceans are the setting for EPIC fishing adventures and unforgettable stories.
In the heart of the Pacific, where the sky meets the sea, there exists a world where passion knows no bounds.
This is the story of two souls united by a love for the ocean and the thrill of the catch. Together, they chase fish that most only dream of, their bond forged by the shared pursuit of the ultimate catch.
“I think landbased is the most unfair sport in the world.”
“You get what you’re given. You need to enjoy the sport and appreciate your own captures. Aim for your own personal goals and be happy for everyone fishing around you.”
KYLE LACK
“Before I got into landbased fishing, I grew up with my dad who use to always take me out on the boat catching flatties and snapper. I grew up hunting, fishing, camping and I just love it. When I met Kyle I had the chance to experience a bit more and learn a new style of fishing. I enjoy the travelling & being outdoors, even the hikes to the locations, it’s really beautiful.”
LANI KONDRACKAS
GET EQUIPPED WITH THE ESSENTIALS FOR LANDBASED GAME FISHING
CLICK TO VIEW THE ESSENTIALS
BAIT COLLECTION
- 3-6ft baby pool (depending on the size of baits in your area)
- 15L bucket with at least 14ft of rope attached to three points for stability when you lift water
- Battery powered Aerator
- Size 6 or 8 bait jigs
- 2x loafs of white bread and a can of cat food (tuna mix or sea food) for burly
STORAGE & PERSONAL ITEMS
- Backpack around 60L +
- Comfortable shoes with plenty of grip
- Plenty of water, food, sunscreen
- Wide brim hat and sunglasses, as the days are long, and some spots have no shade
CATCH MANAGEMENT
- Quality 14ft 2pc gaff
- Quality harness if fishing heavy tackle for marlin
TERMINAL TACKLE
- Off-set hooks for live baiting. 5/0 or 6/0 for Yakkas and smaller baits. 7/0 to 9/0 for slimeys and bigger baits. Hooks should increase in size to match each size bait.
- Cigar/torpedo floats for yakkas and smaller baits (size 10 or 12)
- A range of leaders from 40lb – 80lb
- Quality swivels (size 4 for 10kg line, size 2 for 15kg line and size 1 for 24kg line)
- Balloons with easy slide rig for larger baits (tip take the metal clip off the slider and use 150 200lb mono about and inch long and put in the hole where the metal Clip was. Burn both ends to a nub and tie your balloon on around the mono. This will prevent the metal clip tangling other peoples lines and damaging your own
WHY WE DO IT
Land-based game fishing presents an exhilarating challenge for all anglers. The potential of catching a black marlin is what draws many of us, myself included, to return time and time again. Though it may prove to be challenging, the payoff is undeniably worth it. Successfully fishing for marlin from the shore requires unwavering determination and hard work. We would often rise at midnight, trek through the bush with our heavy equipment, and spend countless hours on the water’s edge. However, despite dedicating weeks, months, or even years to this pursuit, there is never a guarantee of landing a marlin. On February 18th, we decided to switch up our usual fishing routine and try our hand at spinning baits in the morning. Kyle was able to quickly catch a large bonito and use it as bait. However, after his balloon deflated, he had to bring it back in for a change. Once he sent the bonito back out about 15 meters off the ledge, the balloon began to move, and Kyle’s body language told me something was about to go down. Curious, I walked over to see what was happening and asked, “What do you think it is?” Kyle whispered to me with a mix of shock and disbelief, “A marlin” he said. With a steady amount of mono being effortlessly pulled from the spool, the marlin soon burst through the water like a torpedo. Within a matter of minutes, 500m of line had been stripped away and the marlin was flipping and twisting in a wild display on the surface. Unfortunately, many marlin are lost due to passing boats, and it seemed as though this would be the fate of Kyle’s catch as a boat suddenly appeared in the path of his line. Despite the cries from the spectators on the ledge, the boat continued, seemingly oblivious to the potential disaster. The marlin continued to thrash about, causing chaos, but to our relief, the boat finally took notice and changed course, narrowly avoiding a collision. However, the ordeal was far from over as the fish then circled and began heading towards a nearby point. Other anglers had to quickly intervene and hold the line off the rocks as the marlin dove deep into the water. Kyle had to constantly adjust the free spool and release the line before eventually reeling it in again. This intense battle lasted for 59 minutes, testing our strength, agility, and endurance. In the end, Kyle Lack achieved a historic feat by landing the unofficial world record for the largest black marlin ever caught from land at the time. This magnificent fish measured 256.5cm in length and weighed an impressive 176kg. Kyle caught this record-breaking marlin using his trusty PENN International 50VISX reel. This day we will never forget!
by LANI KONDRACKAS
In a small coastal town, where rugged headlands meet rolling waves, a friendship was forged between two blokes with an insatiable desire to fish hard.
For Brad and Levi, fishing isn’t just about the catch; it’s a gateway to unforgettable adventures and lifelong memories. Every fishing trip presents a unique experience, and every cast offers the possibility of the unexpected.
“IT’S REALLY THE UNEXPLORED FOR ME”
“I just love taking off & spending the day at sea as far away as possible. It’s always a really good adventure, you never know where it’s going to lead. Just go for the horizon, you never know what you’ll catch”.
BRAD ARNOTT
“My whole life I’ve lived on the coast doing everything by the sea or in the ocean. My old boy got me into everything I love to do today, he basically taught me all that I know from fishing to surfing.”
LEVI DAVISON
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
When you’re fishing in saltwater environments and chasing the biggest fish you can put a bait in front of, there’s a single piece of advice I always offer to mates who reach out wanting to get setup for themselves; “Invest in quality tackle the first time and buy products specifically built to handle the punishment you’re about to put it through”. I’ve been running PENN rods and reels for a number of years now and there’s a reason for that – it lasts!
While I don’t consider myself to be an expert, I do fish four times a week on average and more times than not, it’s in less favourable conditions. While not all trips are successful, I do hook my fair share of trophies that push me and my tackle to near breaking point in order to turn their heads and get them to the bank or the boat. No matter how the session goes my equipment is still exposed to the same conditions, covered in salt or even banged up on the rocks and from my experience there’s not many rods and reels that can survive the test of time like my PENN gear.
by BRAD ARNOTT
LOCATING MULLOWAY
Brad, tell us a little bit about yourself. What type of fishing do you do and what drives you to do it?
I adapt to seasons and weather conditions, from targeting mulloway around the headlands to heading out in the boat targeting snapper, kingfish and Spanish Mackerel. I also love to head wide to the depths, deep dropping for the unknown.
How long have you been fishing for and what is your most memorable catch?
I’ve been fishing since I could walk and my most memorable catch is a 153cm mulloway on lure, spinning from a rock wall.
We hear you’re a bit of a guru when it comes to tempting a bite from monster mulloway. Before you leave the house to target a mulloway from the rocks, what sort of conditions are you looking for?
I’m no guru. The real mulloway guru’s go unseen! But I find a bit of wild weather or a weather change fires them up.
Let's say you’ve found the perfect spot to cast a lure into, what does your cast and retrieve look like to give you the best shot at getting a bite?
Making sure you’ve anticipated wind & swell. Slow things down and allow your lure to get in front of their face!
We know you love a fresh feed of fish, and who doesn’t! We also know that you fish responsibly and only take what you need. How do you go about landing and releasing a mulloway to give it it’s best chance of survival?
Once you’ve turned the fish and it’s at your feet ready to be landed, I’ll walk them in and wash them up and immediately find the closest rock pool to unhook them, keeping them wet and healthy. After they’ve had a breather or before I leave the spot, I will them go in calm water close to where I caught it
For someone starting out with rock fishing and using lures to target mulloway, what size rod and reel would you recommend?
I think the best all rounder beginner combo would be a 10ft in length, with around the 8-15kg line rating, paired with a 5500 Slammer IV, spooled with 40lb braid.
Any final advice to help someone land their first mulloway from the rocks?
Do your research on the area you plan to fish. Start by throwing small plastics, they can’t resist them! Once you’ve figured out the best conditions for that area, try upsizing your lures and progress to hunting the larger class fish. Enjoy the journey, it won’t happen overnight. But be warned, they’re addictive and before you know it, you’ll have spend many hours hunting them!
